Rep Power: 0

Had the dealer do a valve adjustment, now there's engine vibration. This is when vehicle is in drive...at a full stop I would barely ease off the brake and ride it a bit and the engine pulses (can't think of a better description). Fully releasing the brake the pulses continue until I hit the gas, and everything seems ok. Any ideas besides never getting repairs @ dealership again?

-05 Civic EX 118k

 
Rep Power: 517

It's a 4 cylinder engine. They vibrate.
Is it any worse than any other identical car?


What did the dealer say when you took it back for a recheck?

 
Rep Power: 0

No, it's not any typical 4 cyl engine vibration at any time, it's a jerking stop and go motion if that makes any sense. One of the mechanics said there was an odd movement as well, but said it shouldn't be a problem with drivability. I'd trust their judgement if they didn't leave the throttle cables unsecure, power steering reservoir not screwed down and rubbing up against one of the belts and a scraping noise as I drove off (that was all fixed 5 min later).

Said they would call some support line and let me know tomorrow.

 
Rep Power: 517

Wow, no wonder you don't want to go back.

What else did they do to the engine? Timing belt job or anything?
It's hard to guess at what sort of human errors are possible.
If it is their error, they need to make it right. JMO.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yea actually timing belt and water pump about 2 weeks ago, but left that out because the problem didn't come up until the valve adj. Makes me wonder what else they forgot to put back correctly.

 
Rep Power: 175

Valve adjust should have been done when the timing belt was done. They got you twice for some of the labor.

 
Rep Power: 0

Now they're about to get me for a shot ECM...car stalled out today, had to get it towed.

 
Rep Power: 517

Gee, I can't imagine what would make you say that.

This could be anything.

But it's quite possible it's caused by human errors too.

 
Rep Power: 0

Here's a new one, today I pulled the spark plug to inspect them, and found oil on the spark plug in cylinder 2. Yesterday I went to a local mechanic and he said the vibration issue could be compression related and asked if the valve gasket and seals were replaced by the Honda dealer. I don't think they were since the parts were not on the invoice. I'm going to get it compression tested tomorrow by the new shop which seems miles better than the dealer. I don't see any exhaust smoke or notice any performance issues besides the vibration at idle/slow speed, so I'm less inclined to think its a piston ring issue (I hope). Any thoughts??

 
Rep Power: 517

What happened with the smoked PCM issue?

 
Rep Power: 517

Any reason why?



On top of the plug? See this post, read the thread:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...ml#post4634397

If this was serious it would likely show up as a misfire code.

Is this just talk, or did this guy actually experience your complaint?

Not with a plain head gasket job. They would normally be done with a valve job.

I did not read anywhere in this thread that you said anything about having a head gasket job done, nor a valve job.


Valve stem seals are included with the large version of a head gasket set.
If you can pull your own plugs, you could DIY this (and figure out this probably has nothing to do with the issue).

What's your criteria for "better"?



Yeah. Don't just talk about it. Show it. Prove it.
Ask your mechanic to investigate THIS specific issue. Nothing else until this is investigated.

Go in and say, "I have an odd vibration in the car. Come take a quick ride so I can show you what I mean."
Nothing else.

Take the mechanic for a quick demo ride, so everyone involved knows EXACTLY what problem you have.

Demonstrate what it does. Make it happen.

Then shut up and let him work. Don't suggest other fixes, don't offer suggestions that you heard here or elsewhere.

(DO leave your receipts from the recent work on the seat so he can read them if needed. Do NOT explain them. Only mention they are there if he needs to see them.)

Stand back and let him figure it out without a mind clouded by suggestions.




From what I've read, this could be as simple as a hood latch rattle or as bad as a cashed engine...... Nobody can possibly know unless they can experience exactly what you are experiencing and diagnose that issue.

JMO, YMMV. HTH

 
Rep Power: 0

I was looking at the plugs for this reason, and in cylinder 1, gasket sticking out. And in cylinder 3 (not 2) as I pulled out the boot and saw oil on it, and on the plug threads.

I had the mechanic get in and verify it, and he noticed it right away, unlike mechanics at Honda who told me it was the brakes.

Yea the whole vibration thing was after the valve adjustment.

 
Rep Power: 0

Sometimes the rough idle or pulsing is a broken front engine mount. Mine is a manual transmission and this was the problem. The rubber was weak in the mount and the left side, passenger side, of the mount was touching the connection to the frame. It isn't a common issue but a known one. Quite easy to replace if it is broken or you can DIY the mount repair with urethane.

 
Rep Power: 517

Sorry....I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote this.
Apparently I was thinking of a valve job, not valve adjustment.

BTW it's valve COVER gasket. "Valve gasket" left too many possibilities open and I didn't read the correct word into it..

A valve COVER gasket (and the 4 TUBE seals) is different from valveSTEM seals, which is what I pictured when I wrote the other reply.

A valve cover gasket can be bought from Honda either alone or with the tube seals and bolt seals.
Many times it can be reused successfully if it is still pliable. At only 100k, I'd expect to see it still easily pliable.

I hope these weren't said in the same breath, they shouldn't have anything to do with each other.